Why are epoxides more reactive than acyclic ethers?

Epoxides are significantly more reactive than typical acyclic ethers primarily due to the inherent strain present in their three-membered ring structure.12

While acyclic ethers are generally stable and less reactive, the geometric constraints of the three-membered ring in an epoxide create substantial ring strain. This instability makes the ring highly susceptible to opening through nucleophilic attack under both acidic and basic conditions. This behavior is comparable to the enhanced reactivity observed in other three-membered ring systems, such as cyclopropane. Because of this reactivity, epoxides serve as versatile intermediates in the synthesis of various useful compounds, including ethylene glycol and polymers known as epoxies.123